When playing first in tic tac toe, a player has the privilege to choose the the 1st move. The first move in tic tac toe is crucial because it has a large impact on whether a player will lose, win, or force a draw.
The 1st move a player makes should focus on any corners or the center grid regardless of whether a player goes first or second. Never play the center edges on the grid.
Winning in Tic Tac Toe depends on the opponent player’s mistakes, and therefore chances of ties are very high compared to a win or lose.
How do you win tic tac toe going first? The best move to make as the first player is by placing a symbol in one of the corners. The action will open opportunities for the second player to make mistakes.
If the second player reacts by placing their symbol on any grid apart from the center spot, the first player will have a guaranteed win.
If the opponent keeps on blocking any move, the game will end as a tie.
If the second player fails to take the center spot and takes a spot at the edge, not at the center or the corner, the second move for the first player should be to place their second symbol at the center spot and corner their opponent. Then, place the third symbol at the other end, which will give two winning ways such that even if the opponent player blocks one, they are going to leave the other way wide open for the win.
Tic Tac Toe will always end in a draw if the second player starts with the center or corner grid. Winning in Tic Tac Toe will only happen if the second player places their symbol at the edge grids that are not at the center or the corner.
Winning in Tic Tac Toe depends on both players skills. Answered below are frequently asked questions about winning Tic Tac Toe when going first.
Is it possible to win to go first in Tic Tac Toe?
Traditionally, a player wins Tic Tac Toe when they go first and put their symbol at one of the corners. A simple strategy is to be the first player to put a symbol in any of the four corners, and take the center spot with your second move.
The player who controls the center of the board has the highest odds of winning the game. But, the center must be played in conjunction with two corners for an unblockable victory.
Do you need to go first in tic tac toe?
No, it doesn’t matter whether a player goes first or plays second to win a Tic Tac Toe because winning the game depends on positioning on the grid and who gets their pieces in correct spots.
However, going first puts a player at an added advantage of 50% odds over their opponent because if the opponent makes one mistake, they get to win the game. On the other side, they have to cause two significant mistakes to lose, which means winning when going second in Tic Tac Toe is very hard, but attainable.
Whether someone goes first or second in Tic Tac Toe, if both players understand the game mechanics, the game will always end as a tie.
Therefore, it is important to understand the three essential elements: always play at the center, corners, and not play on the center edges as the first move. If players follow the three rules, they will always win or force a draw regardless of whether they are playing first or second.
What is the best first move in Tic Tac Toe?
When playing as the first one-up player, the best move is any corner because it forces the opponent to mess up so you can take advantage and win. However, the move is not a guarantee of a win because if the second-place counters the move by placing a symbol at the center, winning will be a bit hard, and a draw will be the likely outcome.
When playing second, the best move is placing a symbol at the center if the first player moved to the corner. Otherwise, move to a corner if the first player took the center grid as their first shot.
These moves will always force a draw or a win if the other player makes a mistake, which is rare, but it can indeed happen.
Go First in Tic Tac Toe: Conclusion
Going first is not a guarantee to win in Tic Tac Toe, but it gives the player a high chance of winning over their opponent. However, the advantage doesn’t matter if their opponent counters all moves because they will always force the outcome into a draw.
The best move to take when going first is placing a symbol in one of the corners. As a second player, always focus at the center, and if taken then move to a corner.
Winning in Tic Tac Toe is difficult because the moves are minimal to give a player a chance to lay out a well-structured strategy. There are nine moves that both players can make in the total game, 5 for the first player and 4 for the player who goes second.
This means the first player will always have an advantage of one move over their opponent. Therefore, the only way a second player can win in Tic Tac Toe is if the first player makes a mistake.